Nestled in the woods of Tillamook, Oregon, River Cabaan is the getaway home of Karie Higgins and Lee Gibson, along with their young daughters, Lo and Rue. Originally from New Zealand and now based in Portland, the couple are design visionaries—Karie, an interior stylist known for her serene, Antipodean-inspired aesthetic, and Lee, a footwear designer with a sharp eye for form and function.

Set along 300 feet of private riverfront, the cabin is a personal project brought to life with the same care and consideration they bring to their work. In addition to being their family’s retreat, River Cabaan is a popular Airbnb destination—welcoming guests in search of a peaceful nature escape—and also serves as a striking setting for photoshoots and creative projects.

The 1963 mid-century cabin was something they had stumbled upon after a long search for a place that offered seclusion and connection to nature. After spending most of their adult lives in cities, they found themselves longing for the wild, expansive nature they had felt so connected to growing up in New Zealand. The cabin—about an hour’s drive from Portland—felt just right. "Being close to water—river or ocean—always feels like home," Karie shares. Though in need of some touching up, the structure’s bones were sound, and with its idyllic riverfront location, it was an opportunity they couldn’t pass up.

Karie wears her Editor Bloom Tote in Bordeaux, a refined piece with unique ruffled folds, balanced with a surprisingly spacious interior that suits both the city and weekends at the cabin. "The color and scale is so chic, and it's a good 'mom bag' while looking much more elevated," Karie notes.

Lee wears the Roadster Tri-Zip Crossbody in Dark Indigo, made from durable vintage-wax leather—a slightly rugged yet elevated piece that keeps both hands free (often a welcome bonus for parents of young kids!).

Inside, River Cabaan is bright and open, reflecting their Kiwi roots more than the log cabin aesthetic typical of the Pacific Northwest. Karie describes their style as “California-casual-meets-Scandinavia,” a sensibility that carries through the airy living room and beyond. "The cabin’s expansive deck and floor-to-ceiling windows blur the line between inside and out, which feels so connected to the Kiwi way of life—we love living outdoors whenever we can," she reflects.

The couple took a hands-on approach to the renovation, layering designer fixtures with vintage finds, hand-built elements, textured materials, and art. The result is a space that feels both relaxed and intentional, minimalist yet warm. "For us, good design is calm and unfussy," Karie says. "It honors a home’s original bones with real materials and timeless principles: clean lines and quality over quantity ... Over time, we’ve moved beyond all-minimal or all-modern; our style has evolved into a more layered, nuanced look that brings together diverse influences as our tastes have matured."

In a separate studio space they built overlooking the river, Karie and Lee enjoy quiet, cherished moments with their daughters—listening to records, reading, and simply unwinding. Free of screens and daily chores, it’s a retreat within a retreat. “We all love to draw,” says Karie, “so a favorite family ritual is hauling in the kids’ markers and fancy paper and gathering around the big travertine table to sketch and listen to music.”

Days at River Cabaan flow with simple pleasures: slow mornings on the pebbled riverbank with coffee and stone-skipping, afternoons with all the doors thrown open—friends dropping by, shared meals, drinks flowing, kids running free—and evenings soaking in the wood-fired hot tub as the sun sets.

One of the family’s favorite rituals is cooking. After years of living in apartments in New York and Portland, the chance to prepare slow meals—whether breakfast in their sunlit dining room or dinner over the outdoor grill—feels like a cherished return to a more intentional pace of life.

Sharing the space they’ve created has become one of their greatest joys. “So many tell us it’s their favorite place they’ve ever visited,” Karie says, “and can’t believe how much their kids love just being by the river.”

The couple remains inspired, always dreaming up new ways to enhance the experience—perhaps a deck for the hot tub, a wood-fired sauna, or a tucked-away glamping platform in the trees. But for now, the family gathers by the outdoor grill, fire crackling and marshmallows roasting, immersed in the timeless rhythm of the outdoors.